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Albany board approves two sign variances for Freedom Springs development
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a 7.5-foot monument sign and a ~78.5-square-foot sculptural wall sign for the Freedom Springs residential project, with staff noting permits and building-department review are required next.
On March 11, 2026 the Board of Zoning Appeals granted two area-variance requests for the Freedom Springs development (area variances 2026-2 and 2026-4) allowing a monument sign up to 7.5 feet tall and a wall/sculptural sign of roughly 78.5 square feet where the code’s maximum is 24 square feet for wall signs and 5 feet for a freestanding monument sign.
Bridget Shoemaker, owner of Azoridge Design, and colleague Pria Patel presented drawings showing the proposed monument sign sited on an island near the residential driveway to aid visibility for deliveries and residents. The proponents said the monument sign’s internal LED illumination will meet dark-sky requirements and will improve wayfinding to a residential entry that is set back from the street. The wall sign was presented as a non-illuminated steel sculpture integrated into a wood-veneer façade over a residential entry; presenters said it functions as a neighborhood-facing artwork as well as an identification feature.
Board members asked whether the requested dimensions were the minimum necessary; applicants explained how the sign base, plow protection and letter-size drove the height and how the wall piece is proportioned within a 28-by-28-foot wall. No members of the public spoke on the item. The board moved and seconded to approve both variances; the votes carried and staff directed the applicants to proceed with building-permit applications and to expect written decisions within about a week.
Next steps: applicants must pull permits from the City of Albany building department and comply with permit conditions. Staff said the board’s approvals are subject to the normal permitting process.
